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Interlinking Urban Sustainability, Circular Economy and Complexity: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Walter Antonio Abujder Ochoa

    (Carrera de Ingeniería Civil y Arquitectura, Departamento de Ingenierías y Ciencias Exactas, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías (CICEI), Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo, C. Márquez, Esq. Parque Jorge Trigo Andia, Tupuraya, Cochabamba 0000, Bolivia
    Construction Civil Area, Construction Management and Sustainability, Graduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC), Federal University of Technology of Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil)

  • Angela Gabriela Torrico Arce

    (Carrera de Ingeniería Civil y Arquitectura, Departamento de Ingenierías y Ciencias Exactas, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías (CICEI), Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo, C. Márquez, Esq. Parque Jorge Trigo Andia, Tupuraya, Cochabamba 0000, Bolivia)

  • Alfredo Iarozinski Neto

    (Construction Civil Area, Construction Management and Sustainability, Graduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC), Federal University of Technology of Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil)

  • Mayara Regina Munaro

    (Construction Civil Area, Construction Management and Sustainability, Graduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC), Federal University of Technology of Paraná, Curitiba 81280-340, PR, Brazil)

  • Oriana Palma Calabokis

    (Faculty of Engineering and Basic Sciences, Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores, Bogotá 1112211, Colombia)

  • Vladimir A. Ballesteros-Ballesteros

    (Faculty of Engineering and Basic Sciences, Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores, Bogotá 1112211, Colombia)

Abstract

Urban sustainability challenges demand integrated frameworks capable of addressing the dynamic, non-linear nature of cities. This study explores how the principles of the circular economy and complexity theory intersect to support systemic transformation in sustainable urban planning. Through a systematic literature review of 71 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025, we analyze conceptual, methodological, and practical articulations across multiple thematic axes, including circular governance, urban metabolism, regenerative design, adaptive planning, digital integration, and environmental justice. Bibliometric and content analyses were conducted using Scopus metadata, VOSviewer for thematic clustering, and the StArt software (Version 3.4) to structure article selection. The findings reveal that circular economy provides practical tools for resource efficiency and regeneration, while complexity theory offers an adaptive framework to navigate uncertainty, emergent behaviors, and feedback dynamics. The synthesis suggests that their integration enables a more holistic and resilient approach to urban transformation. However, gaps remain in social inclusivity, long-term assessment, and the operationalization of complexity-informed planning. This study contributes to advancing a transdisciplinary agenda for circular and adaptive urban futures, offering insights for scholars, planners, and policymakers aiming to reconfigure cities within planetary boundaries.

Suggested Citation

  • Walter Antonio Abujder Ochoa & Angela Gabriela Torrico Arce & Alfredo Iarozinski Neto & Mayara Regina Munaro & Oriana Palma Calabokis & Vladimir A. Ballesteros-Ballesteros, 2025. "Interlinking Urban Sustainability, Circular Economy and Complexity: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:7118-:d:1718526
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roberta De Angelis, 2022. "Circular economy business models as resilient complex adaptive systems," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2245-2255, July.
    2. Zeina ELZEIN, 2024. "Sustainable Built Environments and the Water, Energy, and Food Nexus: Toward an Interdisciplinary Approach to Urban Resilience," Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies (CJUES), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(01), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Janis Birkeland, 2012. "Design Blindness in Sustainable Development: From Closed to Open Systems Design Thinking," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(2), pages 163-187.
    4. Julie Marin & Bruno De Meulder, 2018. "Interpreting Circularity. Circular City Representations Concealing Transition Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-24, April.
    5. Yee Keong Choy & Ayumi Onuma & Khai Ern Lee, 2025. "The Nexus of Industrial–Urban Sustainability, the Circular Economy, and Climate–Ecosystem Resilience: A Synthesis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-47, March.
    6. Katia Fabbricatti & Paolo Franco Biancamano, 2019. "Circular Economy and Resilience Thinking for Historic Urban Landscape Regeneration: The Case of Torre Annunziata, Naples," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-29, June.
    7. Grazia Sveva Ascione & Federico Cuomo & Nicole Mariotti & Laura Corazza, 2021. "Urban Living Labs, Circular Economy and Nature-Based Solutions: Ideation and Testing of a New Soil in the City of Turin Using a Multi-stakeholder Perspective," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 545-562, September.
    8. Libera Amenta & Anna Attademo & Hilde Remøy & Gilda Berruti & Maria Cerreta & Enrico Formato & Maria Federica Palestino & Michelangelo Russo, 2019. "Managing the Transition towards Circular Metabolism: Living Labs as a Co-Creation Approach," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 5-18.
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    15. Diana Lukmine & Stasys Mizaras & Andrius Gulbinas & Miika Kajanus, 2025. "Testing the Prospective Rapid Impact Assessment Approach for Stakeholders Engagement in Municipality Action Planning: The Case of Tauragė," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-20, March.
    16. Mohammed Sakib Uddin & Khaled Mahmud & Bijoy Mitra & Al-Ekram Elahee Hridoy & Syed Masiur Rahman & Md Shafiullah & Md. Shafiul Alam & Md. Ismail Hossain & Mohammad Sujauddin, 2023. "Coupling Nexus and Circular Economy to Decouple Carbon Emissions from Economic Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
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    1. Erika Džajić Uršič & Alenka Pandiloska Jurak & Jelena Topić Božič, 2025. "From Policy to Practice: EU Circular Economy Legislation and Slovenia’s Implementation Challenges—A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Linyue Li & Yikai Wang, 2025. "The Impact of Coordinated Two-Way FDI Development on Carbon Emissions in Belt and Road Countries: An Empirical Analysis Based on the STIRPAT Model and GMM Estimation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-25, September.

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